Daydreams And Nightshade (DaN #1)

Chapter 39: A party full of strangers

Luna peeked out from behind a large floor plant and stuck her tongue out at the gathering of people. It was her nineteenth birthday, she shouldn't have to hide. She was an adult for crying out loud, but she knew people were expecting her to spend time with her oh-so-charming fiancé, and Luna would rather spend the evening with aforementioned plant.

Honestly, she would've thought she'd get a say in who was invited and not, even if the party was held at the BBT mansion and not at her own home. She glared at the group of Noah's classmates. She'd gotten the impression that most of them were actually mean to him, so why would he invite them? Not that she got along particularly well with most of the high society girls she'd felt obligated to invite.

"What are we doing, Birthday girl?"

Luna jumped as Alexei rested his arms on her shoulders and tried to see what she was looking at.

"Just... Avoiding people. Nothing new."

"Hm. Anyone in particular?"

Luna arched her eyebrows just trying to count the people she'd rather not talk to.

"I guess Finn mostly? And anyone who'd want me to spend time with him."

Alexei chuckled.

"Oh, you don't want to spend time with your lovey dovey Finnegan?"

"No. Maybe you'd like to?"

"Nah, not my type."

Luna looked smug.

"Right. Not pirate enough I suppose."

Alexei elbowed her.

"I have more than one type."

"Right," Luna said, shoving him back. "Pirate, girl, gold makeup and an affinity for getting us into trouble. Those are your types."

"Come on—"

"Young Lady Hargreaves," a silvery voice said from behind Luna and Alexei, and both of them hastily turned around.

A woman of what Luna guessed somewhere around her fifties with cold, ivory skin and painfully straight, white hair in line with her chin stood in front of them. Her posture was impeccable, and her expression impossibly hard to read, but what struck Luna most were the piercing holes that could easily have been mistaken for dimples on each side of her mouth. The same kind that Vincent had, or at least that he'd had before, as one had been lost to the shawalka.

Luna's eyes darted around. There was no one nearby who could clue her in on who the woman was. Fortunately it seemed like she wasn't expected to.

"Cardinal Beatrice Ambrosia." She introduced herself. "Grand inquisitor of the Traquian inquisition."

"Well, I'll certainly remember that," Luna said with only a hint of sarcasm and a lot of lie. "So, uh... Since you said my name and well... You're here..." Luna gestured around. "... I'm guessing you already know who I am, so... Yeah, nice to meet you."

"I've been in this town for some time," Cardinal Ambrosia said. "I suppose we must've missed each other during Saturday gatherings."

Luna smiled sheepishly. She didn't pay much attention when in the sanctuary, and especially not to people. She mostly spent her time translating passages in her head.

"I suppose so."

Cardinal Ambrosia turned to Alexei.

"And..." she trailed off, seemingly expecting an introduction.

"Alexei Vieryshkin," Alexei dutifully replied.

"Oh. Alexei, is it?" She scanned his appearance. "I don't believe I've seen you at the sanctuary either?"